Horizon Oil announced in a press release strong gas and condensate flows during testing of the Tingu-1 discovery well in Papua New Guinea.

The company advised on Oct. 2 that data from logs and pressure measurements had confirmed a significant gas/condensate discovery in the primary target Elevala sandstone in the Tingu-1 exploration well. The well encountered a gas-water contact in that reservoir consistent with that in the Elevala accumulation to the southeast, implying a connected field of considerable size.

Data from the Toro formation underlying the Elevela sandstone indicate that a possible gas column also exists in that reservoir up-dip from the Tingu-1 location, according to the press release.

Since the time of the last report, logging operations were finalized and a 7-in. liner was run and cemented at a measured depth of 3,234 m (10,610 ft). After running a completion tubing string and installing the christmas tree, the well was perforated across a 7-m (23-ft) interval in the Elevela sandstone on Oct. 24, and production testing operations commenced, according to the release. At the end of the cleanup flow period, the average flow rate was 1.3 MMcm/d (48 MMcf/d) on a 72/64-in. choke with no water, indicating high deliverability from the reservoir.

For the main flow period the gas was flowed to a test separator, and an average condensate gas ratio of 65 bbl of condensate per 28 Mcm (1 MMcf) of gas was measured over a three-hour period. After that hydrocarbon samples were taken for compositional and pressure analysis, according to the press release. This analysis will be required to confirm the flow test results and condensate gas ratio.

The well is currently shut-in for pressure buildup measurement, according to the release. The forward plan is to carry out multirate flow testing and then suspend the well for future service in production operations.

Tingu-1 spudded on Aug. 26 with Parker Rig 226. The well is located 9.2 km (5.7 miles) northwest of the Elevala-2 appraisal well, itself a stepout from the Elevala-1 discovery well. Both of these wells found condensate-rich gas in the Early Cretaceous Elevala sandstone, according to the release.

Horizon Oil, as operator of PRL 21, is currently carrying out FEED work of the Elevala and Ketu field developments. Participants in the PRL 21 joint venture include Horizon Oil (Papua) Ltd. as operator with a 45% interest, Talisman Energy Niugini Ltd. with 32.5%, Kina Petroleum Ltd. with 15%, and Diamond Gas Niugini BV with 7.5%.